BY MARLENE A. ZLOZA
Northwest Indiana Catholic
Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, of Denver, Colo., recently celebrated the donation of one million coats through the Knights' Coats for Kids program, with the distribution of nearly 1,000 new coats to underprivileged children in five Denver Catholic schools. In recognition of the historic milestone, Supreme Knight Kelly also announced the donation of $10,000 on behalf of the Knights of Columbus to each school.
Locally, several Knights of Columbus Councils in the Diocese of Gary have participated in Coats for Kids since the program launched in 2009. Since then, Knights have distributed coats in 49 U.S. states and all 10 Canadian provinces – including on U.S. military bases and Native American and First Nation reservations. Knights of Columbus councils have distributed more than 100,000 coats to children in need each year since 2017 and are on pace to distribute 200,000 coats in 2023.
“Our Council has participated in Coats for Kids for three years; I just delivered 50 coats to Catholic Charities this week,” said Grand Knight Mike Havens of St. Matthias Knight of Columbus Council 16945 in Crown Point of this year’s project. “We spent $1,100 to buy four boxes of coats in a variety of sizes and styles, for boys and girls, using money we raised through fundraisers throughout the year, at events like our pancake breakfast, cash raffle and pierogi sale.”
Havens added that Council 16945 “is encouraged in our charitable efforts by our pastor, Father Jim Wozniak. “We have a check waiting to go to Gibault Home in Terre Haute, which recently took over Campagna Academy in Schererville, to help with the youth there.”
LaShawn Jones Taylor, program manager for Community Outreach at Catholic Charities, explained the value of the Knights’ efforts. “There is definitely a need for these coats, and we see it in the families we work with and our partners,” she said. “We distribute some to the case managers for foster children, who have children being placed in homes rapidly with no extra clothing. In the winter, when the weather can get so severe here, they are a big help.”
A coat for their child “could allow our clients to pay another bill, rent or utilities, with their own resources,” Taylor added. “Saving the cost of a coat could mean paying a light bill or buying gas to get to work.
“I love it when we can come together as a community, with our stakeholders, to help families in the area we serve. Because of our partnerships with groups like Mike (Havens) and the Knights of Columbus, we are able to do that, and we thank them,” Taylor said.
Victor Senese, financial secretary for Council 16945, said despite being one of the newest councils in Northwest Indiana, the group is committed to the Knights’ mission of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. “Coats for Kids aligns with that philosophy in terms of charity,” he said. “It’s a way to help children and families in need just in time for the winter season and Christmas.”
Larry Franks, Grand Knight of Queen of Angels Knights of Columbus Council 12154 at St. John the Evangelist in St. John, said his Council has participated in Coats for Kids “for a number of years, always donating about 50 coats to St. Joseph Carmelite Home in East Chicago” but is waiting to determine how to handle their donation this year due to the recent change that has nonprofit Damar Services taking over operations from the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus.
“This year we may just make a cash donation, depending on the need,” said Franks, who added that Council 12154 has raised Coats for Kids funds through its annual Mardi Gras Party, a breakfast co-hosted with the SJE Men’s Club and its Tootsie Roll Drive. “In the past, we ordered boys and girls coats through the Indiana Knights website. It’s great that we’ve reached one million coats overall.”
Msgr. Weis Knights of Columbus Council 10596 of St. Thomas More in Munster has participated in Coats for Kids in the past, said Grand Knight Ralph Konkoly, and while it no longer does, he is happy to be part of a milestone accomplishment.
“Reaching one million coats is really impressive,” he said. “The Knights have helped a lot of kids over the years.”
“The Coats for Kids program has become synonymous with the Knights of Columbus mission of charity, as first established by our Founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, more than 140 years ago," said Supreme Knight Kelly. “The generosity of our donors and the work of our local councils to distribute one million coats to underprivileged children is proof that where there's a need, there's a Knight.”
Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Conn., founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into a worldwide lay Catholic men's organization, with more than two million members in more than 16,600 local councils.
As members of one of the world's leading international charitable organizations, Knights around the world donated approximately 50 million service hours and nearly $185 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2022.
If interested in making a donation to the Coats for Kids program, visit kofc.org/coatsforkids. One hundred percent of every donation supports the purchase of coats for children in need, according to the Knights.
Caption: At Catholic Charities in Gary, Executive Director Terry Seljan (from left) welcomes a donation of winter outerwear for 50 children from St. Matthias Knights of Columbus Council 16945 members Scott May, Mike Havens and Sam Brune of Crown Point on Nov. 15. Council 16945 has participated in the Knights' nationwide Coats for Kids project since it was established five years ago. (Provided photo)